Cool Cruise Balcony Cabins

Whether you always get a balcony room or are looking at splurging on one for the first time you are sure to have a bevy of choices. Of course there is the standard balcony cabin- with a smaller outdoor space which typically holds two chairs and a small table. There is also a larger balcony, as pictured above, which can be found on ships like the Norwegian Getaway. These larger balconies often have several loungers, chairs and a larger table. There are quite a few other types of balconies you can enjoy, however, from an inside the ship view to an aft wraparound retreat. Here is a list of various balcony cabin types the cruise lines offer:

A Virtual Balcony- While some cruisers complain this is not a "real" balcony you do still get an outside view-just not the outside air! Royal Caribbean's Virtual Balcony is comprised of an inside cabin with an 80-inch high-definition screen that spans from basically the floor to the ceiling. With this cabin option you have the ability to see real-time views and sounds of the ocean, as well as port destinations from the comfort of your room. Both the RC Navigator of the Seas and the Quantum of the Seas have these unique faux balconies.

Inside the Ship Balcony- Several Royal Caribbean ships, such as the Allure of the Seas and the Oasis of the Seas offer these cool outdoor areas which give passengers a view of a bustling and picturesque area of the ship. Cabins with these inside the ship views  offer a 24/7 look at the Boardwalk area of the ship or the re-creation of Central Park, like on the Oasis and Harmony of the Seas. Imagine watching the parade on the boardwalk from your cabin! :)

Cove Balcony- This cozy balcony can be found on ships like the Carnival Magic and Carnival Breeze. The lower level balconies are pretty close to the water and have a look more like an open oceanview cabin. Many cruisers report they love being so close to the water and getting an up close view of the sea creatures. The balcony doors will lock automatically if the ship encounters rough weather though.

Aft Balcony- These awesome balconies offer a wraparound view for corner cabins-which  typically have loungers and chairs. Medium sized ships, such as the Norwegian Pearl have many of these aft cabins classified as a Suite or Haven, so locating a true balcony classification for a larger sized aft balcony is a find!

Large Balcony- This sizable private space is also available as a mini suite with  a balcony category on ships like the Norwegian Getaway and Escape. The caveat is that these balconies are on decks 8 and 9, which stick out a bit more than usual balconies. So, if you are a cruiser who does not plan to stand outside in your underwear (yes I saw this! lol! :) ) than you should be a-okay with an area of your balcony visible to other passengers. We loved our large balcony on deck 8 of the Norwegian Getaway-it was a perfect place to lounge and even to have breakfast! Other ships, like the Celebrity's Millennium Class fleet offer what is coined as a "Sweet Sixteen" set of balcony cabins, which while classified as a 2C category are bigger than the average balcony for the same price! These inexpensive balconies offer the most bang for you buck and are found as a set of 8 on both the port and starboard sides of the four Millennium Class ships. Princess's Grand Class ships have mini suites with exposed large balconies as well.

Balcony cabins may also include a private whirlpool, hot tub or solarium- however those rooms are almost always classified as suites. Have you had a spectacular balcony room on a cruise voyage? Please share the balcony room you loved with me! :)